Chapter 1

Basically, in the preface of Owen’s book, we have established the reasons for which he published the work:

1) The easy believism that had so prevailed upon professing believers of his day and age (not too different from those of our own day, I’m sure).

2) The false method of mortification which led to a perfectionism and a works-based salvation, which was a major assault on the doctrine of Sola Fide (Justification by Faith Alone).

Now we begin this book of immense practical value in the life of the believer and of great need of immediate application in my own life. As we begin, let us pray:

God, make me know and understand the true sinfulness of my own sin and its utter despicableness before you, never casting it off lightly, as if it cost You little. I know my sin and it is ever before me, now let me be resensitized to its great rebellion against You, that I may actively pursue the mortification thereof and the pursuit of holiness. I confess my need of not only your pardon, but also your restraining grace which leads me not into temptation. Have mercy on this wretch, O Lord.

The reason I am wanting to outline Owen’s chapters is because of the need for application in our lives. By studying the outline form we can place a “quick-reference” guide, if you will, into our minds in time of need. You say, “Well, Josh, that’s why we have the Holy Spirit, for the application of Scripture in times of need.” And to such I would agree whole-heartedly. However, Owen’s words gives us systematized stratagem in our war against indwelling sin because this is, in fact, exegesis of the very Scriptures that the Holy Spirit brings to mind in times of trouble, trial, and temptation. Take it to heart, readers.

Scripture Text:

Romans 8:13b If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live.

Excerpt from The Mortification of Sin (Chapter 1)

In the words peculiarly designed for the foundation of the ensuing discourse there is, -

-First, A duty prescribed: “Mortify the deeds of the body.”
-Secondly, The persona are denoted to whom it is prescribed: “Ye,”–”If ye mortify.”
-Thirdly, There is in them a promise annexed to that duty: “Ye shall live.”
-Fourthly, The cause or means of the performance of this duty, –the Spirit: “If ye through the Spirit.”
-Fifthly, The conditionality of the whole proposition, wherein duty, means, and promise are contained: “If ye,” etc.

Just to note, if you’re following along in the book, you’ll notice that Owen sets up his extrapolation of his aforementioned principles chronologically different in the actual chapter. I will be outlining according to the above standards.

Outline

I. The Duty: Mortify the deeds of the body

A. The terms body and flesh are interchangeable.

1. Body and flesh in this particular case are speaking of indwelling sin, the sin nature, the “old man”. It is the outworking of the depravity of man in unbelievers, but that which wars with the Spirit in unbelievers.

B. The deeds of the body.

1. These are those actions which result as fruition of not dealing with the root of the problems. So, in saying that, Paul is also speaking of the root, then. Why? Because “the deeds of the flesh are to be mortified in their causes, from whence they spring.”

C. To mortify.

1. “Indwelling sin is compared to a person, a living person, called ‘the old man,’ with his faculties, and properties, his wisdom, craft, subtlety, strength; this, says the apostle, must be killed, put to death, mortified, — that is, have its power, life, vigour, and strength, to produce its effects, taken away by the Spirit.

II. To Whom this Duty is Prescribed: “Ye”

A. Namely, believers. Those who are under no condemnation (verse 1).

B. Duty is impossible for any others (See IV) to perform.

-With these first 2 points (Duty and Persons addressed) this proposition is made:

The choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin.

III. The Promise: “Ye shall live”

A. The Antithesis: (v. 13a)

1. 13 …if you live according to the flesh you will die

B. Not just speaking of the eternal state, but the quality of temporary life. Consider:

1. I Thess 3:8 For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.

-So we see: The vigour, and power, and comfort of our spiritual life depends on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh.

IV. The Cause/Means of Mortification: “If by the Spirit”

A. The Spirit of Christ (v.11), of God, that “dwells in us” (v. 9), etc. True effective mortification must be by the Spirit of God.

B. All other ways are futile, which is why, as mentioned in II, it was noted that only believers are prescribed in this duty, for the purposes of holiness, assurance, and sanctification.

-Concerning this point, Owen says, like in the second portion of his preface:

Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, unto the end of a self-righteousness, is the soul and substance of all false religion in the world.

V. The Conditionality of the Proposition: “But if”, denoting one of two things:

A. The uncertainty of the fruition of the promise, to whom the duty is prescribed.

1. This cannot be the case in v. 13, since the people addressed are believers, those who are not under condemnation.

or

B. The certainty of the connection that is between the condition and the promise.

1. Quote: …we say to a sick man, “If you will take such a potion, or use such a remedy, you will be well.” The thing we solely intend to express is the certainty of the connection that is between the potion or remedy and health. And this is the use of it here. The certain connection is that between the mortifying of the deeds of the body and living in this conditional particle.

-That being said, Dr. Owen qualifies, noting that the means (mortification) and end (life) is “not of cause and effect properly and strictly”, rightly recognizing that eternal life was purchased for the believer by the merits of Christ alone and His righteousness imputed into us, but that mortification is that means which he has appointed for such an end.

- If you use this means, you shall obtain that end; if you do mortify, you shall live.

End Outline.

I, by no means, intend to imply that I am, in any way, capable of improving upon Dr. Owen’s work. Rather, I’m sort of sifting through, sloppily posting my own thoughts. So if, in any way, God wishes to direct one who is not familiar with the Puritans or Dr. Owen, maybe this will point in that direction.

In chapter 1, Dr. Owen lays out the exposition of the passage. All of this can be seen in the outline, and even more so, I’d encourage you to read along, taking in all the details he so articulately lays out. Paul has been setting up for this discourse throughout the first chapters of Romans by teaching about the law, the fall, and the sin of man. However, he has just started a chapter which gives hope. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom 8:1). That being the case, since such a truth is so wonderful and great, how much more ought we seek to honor the Lord Jesus with our lives. Those of us who are no longer under condemnation, the result should be this: mortification of sin, sanctification, pursuit of holiness, etc.

So the audience is the Christian. In thinking along the lines of his second preface statement, we see that an assault on justification by faith alone is exemplified in the idea that man can merit himself before God by a self-wrought mortification. If you think of today’s culture, you realize that many professing Christians are caught in the lie that, in order to retain their salvation, they must work feverishly. The problem with most is this: they are not doing so “by the Spirit”. Christ’s yoke is easy, His burden is light. Yes! we must be diligent in the things of God. Yes! we must fight temptation, trials, and hardships. But we must do so “by the Spirit of God”.

Thus, Dr. Owen is quick to show that this war of mortification is for the believer, not the unbeliever. We must never encourage an unbeliever to “clean his life up” before casting himself at the mercy of Christ. Such an admonition denotes that he might earn God’s favor with his filthy rags. No! We must preach the law of God, and the man’s transgression thereof, and that his only hope. . .his only prayer is to realize his absolute destitution and inability to save himself and throw himself at the feet of the Almighty God with a broken, contrite, and repentant heart. Then, and only then, can this man, “by the Spirit”, clean up his life.

Christians,

Man is but dust that blows away in the wind!

Consider King David: Though David was characterized as “a man after God’s own heart”, he was nonetheless carried astray by his own evil desires. Permitted by God’s providence to engage in the sinfulness thereof. Despite his multiple spiritual “accomplishments” up to that point, despite his attainment, despite all these things, even he still fell.

Consider King Solomon: Even with all his God-given wisdom, wisdom which surpassed all others, he was carried away by the depravity of his own heart, vying for the affections of others over the Lord His God and following after the folly, as if he were somehow a slave to their passions.

Consider Peter who, no doubt, sincerely believed that his devotion to the Lord Jesus was unwaivering. “Surely, Lord, while all others may desert, I will not!” And yet he experiences the gracious, merciful look of Jesus after having thrice denied the Lord according to His sure prediction.

Men, I say again, we are but dust that blows away in the wind! But what is it that separates us from other men?

Blessed be the Lord God Who has purchased our redemption and passed us from death to life! Though our sins were like scarlet, they became white as snow. In His mercy, the Lord God has seen fit to redeem sinful man for Himself and, not considering time or men’s invention or decision, He elected a chosen people for Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace!

Even though we may fall, let us remember the mercies of our Lord as exemplified by the aforementioned men of Scripture, along with others.

As our respective Confessions (WCF and LBCF 1689) state (with sligh variation from another):

Although…unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions: of being in the favour of God and estate (LBCF uses “state”) of salvation; which hope of theirs shall perish: yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in a state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God: which hope shall never make them ashamed.

This Lord’s Day let us worship the Almighty in Spirit and in Truth, remembering the ways of His Word and being diligent to apply them in our lives.

May we pray with pure hearts and minds, according to the truths of Scripture:

O, God, hallowed be Your Name. You alone are worthy to recieve our undivided affections and worship. We ask you, O Lord to bless Your people this day, not according to our merit, but according to Your steadfast love. According to Your promises we beseech Your good will to be upon us. We believe in Your eternal and inherent goodness; thus, we ask these things.

We confess our great need and ineptitude before You. We confess our rebellion against and transgressions of Your law. Have mercy on us, O Lord, according to the seal of approval You set on us, according to Your covenant. Be our God, as we are Your people. Grant us repentance from our desensitization of sin that we might be a people who cry out, “Woe is us, for we are undone!” Expose our wretchedness to Your glorious light, knowing that the pain will be great while under such scrutiny, but the fruit thereof, is victory. Give us the strength to daily mortify our flesh.

Thank You for not dealing with us according to our natural states, but according to the righteousness of Jesus Christ which was imputed to us the hour we first believed via the faith You freely gave us according to Your gracious determination. We humble ourselves before You, recognizing we are but dust in the wind, and yet, that You are mindful of us, O Lord, is more than we can comprehend!

Build Your holy Church, Lord. We avail ourselves to You not because You have need of us, but because we wish to obey Your commands and believe that you have a means by which You accomplish Your ends. Blessed be Your Name, O Lord, You Who saves from everlasting to everlasting. You are God.

Amen.